City Administrators Weekly Report

Sept 23, 2008

ADMINISTRATION

An Exploration into the Supernatural with Michael Kouri

On September 27, at 7 p.m., Michael Kouri will be presenting “True Hauntings of Huntington Beach and Beyond” at the Huntington Beach Central Library. This event will benefit the Huntington Beach Centennial and the city’s Rose Float. Do not miss this opportunity to meet a real, world renowned, psychic-medium. Kouri will be presenting images of real ghosts that he has captured on film during his career and sharing his personal experience with the supernatural specters. This lecture is a unique opportunity to traverse the world of the paranormal with a noted parapsychological investigator. Tickets for this event are available in advance for $20 per adult and $15 per student (age 9 - 17). For tickets and reservations, call (626) 791-1129. Tickets will also be available at the door for $25 per adult. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Huntington Beach Centennial Committee Rose Parade Float fund.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Huntington Beach Senior Services

The Lights Go Out, but the Service Goes On – On Monday, September 15, there was a power outage from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at both Seniors Outreach Center and Rodgers Senior Center. Southern California Edison verified that 750 local customers were affected. Meanwhile, seniors needed to be transported, lunch served, and bingo played all without power! Brandi Kelly-Contreras, the Transportation Coordinator, moved her laptop out to the parking lot and hooked up to the power of her truck. She perched her laptop on a picnic table with an umbrella shading the screen and continued to dispatch drivers and passengers. In the kitchen at Rodgers, Pat Massino couldn’t use her ovens to prepare the congregate meal or her steam trays to keep it at temperature for serving. Alternatively, she used the gas stove top to heat the soup and macaroni and cheese. She heated them above the recommended temperature and served them immediately so that they would remain hot without the use of the steam trays. After lunch, bingo players were dismayed to discover that their bingo board wouldn’t work without electricity. Bingo must go on, so they invented a method to call bingo using boxes for the bingo balls. Emergency lighting lit the hallways and bathrooms so safety was maintained until about 1:15 p.m. when the computers hummed, the lights came back on, and staff heaved a sigh of relief.

Hoarding - Public Educational Event - On Saturday, September 27, at 9 a.m., the Orange County Task Force on Hoarding will be featuring the movie premier of Cynthia Lester’s award winning documentary, My Mother’s Garden at the Huntington Beach Central Library and Cultural Center. The film provides a first hand glimpse of how “hoarding” impacts the person who hoards, their family, and the entire community. Immediately following the film, Cynthia Lester and a host of community experts will discuss the film, community resources, service strategies, and gaps in services for people and families challenged by compulsive hoarding. Senior Services Social Worker Michelle Yerke is a member of the Orange County Task Force and part of the planning committee that worked to bring the inaugural Summit on Hoarding to Huntington Beach. Admission is $5, and tickets can be purchased at the door up to 30 minutes before the show. Seating is limited.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Duke’s/Savannah at the BeachRestaurant Fire

The Huntington Beach Fire Department, along with mutual aid from Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa Fire Departments, responded to a fire on September 18, at 6:39 p.m., at Duke’s/Savannah at the Beach restaurants located on PCH at the base of the pier. Upon arrival, the first engine company saw a large amount of smoke in the area coming from the two story building that is shared by Duke’s and Savannah at the Beach. The Fire Department discovered that there was fire and heavy smoke coming from one of the ventilation units on the roof and the pizza oven located inside Savannah at the Beach. The Fire Department was able to confine and extinguish the fire in the ventilation system and hidden spaces surrounding the ventilation shaft. There was fire damage to the ventilation system as well as heat damage to some of the surrounding wood members of the building. The Fire Department remained on scene long after the fire to ensure there was no further fire in any of the multiple hidden and void spaces inside the building. All patrons were evacuated from both restaurants, and both restaurants were closed for the rest of the evening. A total of 51 firefighters were on scene. The restaurants were fully operational the next day following inspections from the Health Department. The Building Department, along with the Fire Department, did a follow-up inspection of the structure as well as the affected ventilation system. Thanks go to the Marine Safety Officers for their quick attention to the smoke and their assistance in getting the patrons evacuated.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT

City Staff Attends Huntington Beach Green Expo

The city of Huntington Beach and the Chamber of Commerce held a public Green Exposition on Saturday, September 20, at the Central Library. Planning and Building & Safety Departments’ staff staffed a booth, provided information, and answered questions of the citizens in attendance throughout the day-long event. Available during the event were brochures and handouts with helpful Green Building tips and material samples to highlight some easy ways to incorporate sustainable building materials and design practices. The Green Expo was a success in helping educate the public and introduce emerging concepts of sustainability to the design and maintenance of buildings in Huntington Beach. The event proved to be a fun and helpful opportunity for home and business owners to learn more of what’s available and how the city of Huntington Beach is working to make “sustainable” a household expression. Other city booths included water conservation, environmental engineering/hazardous materials, and the Environmental Review Board.

PUBLIC WORKS

RDA Storm Drain Projects Complete

Two projects to enhance the city's drainage system will be complete by September 26. The storm drain project that begins on Parkside Lane south of Edinger Avenue was constructed to improve street drainage. The new drain runs the length of Rhone Lane and flows to the Murdy Channel. The second project along Slater Avenue constructed another storm water line from Beach Boulevard to Morgan Lane that eventually drains into the Slater Channel. The new drainage line graduates from 36 inches in diameter to 42 inches, and parallel existing drainage lines essentially double the drainage capacity of the system in the areas. Other construction work included adding catch basins, lateral lines, access manholes, and a large storm drain box culvert. The two projects totaled $1.4 million. Since both projects serve parts of the merged Redevelopment Agency areas, funding was provided by the Huntington Beach RDA.

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